Huntsville gazette., 1887-09-17
A MASONIC MIDDLE.

An Ancient Dispute in the Fraternity Re-
gived-The Cerneau the Southern
Rite Organization-A Covert Attack I'm
der the Mark of a Warning.
NEW YORK, Sept. 13.-Masonic circles
are greatly excited by the publication in
a French Masonic journal of covert at
tack by one prominent official in the fra
ternity on another under the guise oil
warning. The publication, which appear
ed in the Chain D. Union, is as follows:
DEAR BROTHER HERBERT-Should a person
named Sutton, OF Brooklyn, N. Y. pretending
to be T..irty-third, present himself to you,
or should you hear him spoken of, put the
brethren on their guard against him. He is
false Thirty-third, fabricated by one of the
Cerneau organizations of New York, whom
they have made to believe that he will be
recognized in France. Aid in opening eyes.
Fraternally and sincerely, ALBERT PIKE,
Grand Commander
Or of Washington, July q, 1887.
The explanation of the whole affair is
that among the several Masonic organiza-
tions claiming the right to confer degrees
in the Scottish Rite, the Cerneau organiza-
tion and the Southern Rite organization
have, from time immemorial, been as
actively stirred by jealousy as the houses
of York and Lancaster in early English
days. Disputes regarding priority Of
organization, succession and the powers
of the parent consistories to confer char
ters, have been thrashed over times in
Vulnerable during the last two centuri es
American Masons have generally given
the preference to Cerneau Rite, which far
exceeds all competitors in numerical
strength. This organization claims sue
cession from the old English eonsistory,
while the Southern Rite claims its success
sion through the French consistory, con-
ferred on Louisiana chapters when the
State was a French colony. Albert Pike
| is a Sovereign Inspector General OF the
Southern Rite, and VIM. III. Sutton, who
is foreman of the composing rooms OF
Brooklyn Edgle, is Sovereign Grand In
spector General of the highest degree in
the Cerneau body.
Said prominent member Of the order
Yesterday: Both are Blue Lodge Masons,
Of course, and are bound by the obliga-
tions of Masonry. In no other possible
manner than that indicated could Sow
ereign InspectorGeneral Pike have assail-
ed the character of brother Mason with
out mourning the penalties OF an lnfrac-
tion of his obligation, and while any
prosecution based upon the letter above
| quoted, would only result in another con-
| test over the priority and title to preced-
ence of the respective consistories-and
there exists no tribunal with jurisdiction
| over the issue-the spirit of the Masonic
obligation has, according to authority,
! been outrageously violated by Pike in
! his letter to Herbert. How he
could feel called on to cast such
slur on a brother Mason in any official
capacity, fellow craftsmen are at loss to
| nd SJ1tfO had intantinn n
travelling in France. and such warnings
are seldom sent til the action Of an i'm
poster have made it necessary. And,
surely, Mr.. Sutton's position in the general
| body of Masons is quite as secure and
! crcditable as that of Mr.. Pike. But Sut-
/ ton is not alone in the quarrel. In the
f! early years of the existence of the United
| States, as a nation, General Lafayette
| became Sovereign Grand Commander Of
| the Cerneau Supreme Council, and one
| Emanuel de la Motta, an enthusiast of the
| Southern Rite, wrote the following letter:
| DEAR BROTHER CHOSE: Should a person
| named Lafayette, Of Paris, pretending to be
! Thirty-third present himself to you, or should
| you hear him spoken Of, put the brethren on
i their guard against him. He is false Thirty
! third fabricated by the Cerneau Council in
/ New York whom they have made believe that
/ he will be recognized in France. Aid in open
| ing eyes. Fraternally and sincerely,
EMANUEL. DE LA MOTTA.
| K. II. S. p. r. s., etc.
| Or of Charleston, S. c., May %, 1925.
| Lafayette's position in the council was
only made possible by the resignation OF
| Governor Dewitt Clinton from the office of
| Sovereign Grand Commander, and when
| he returned to France he was appointed
representative of the Supreme Council OF
| the United States to the Grand Orient and
! Supreme Council of France. No question
| was raised of his credentials.